Cancer Breast Cancer Benign Breast Conditions An Overview of Mammary Duct Ectasia This noncancerous breast condition affects the milk ducts By Pam Stephan Pam Stephan is a breast cancer survivor. Learn about our editorial process Pam Stephan Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on July 20, 2019 Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD on July 20, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Mammary duct ectasia (periductal ectasia) is a benign (noncancerous) breast condition in which the milk ducts become swollen and clogged. Symptoms can include redness and pain in the nipple and surrounding area, as well as a discharge that can be many colors including black or red. It’s more common in women who are getting close to menopause, though it can happen before then. Thankfully, mammary duct ectasia usually resolves on its own and does not increase the risk of breast cancer. Verywell / Emily Roberts Symptoms While the above is true, mammary duct ectasia often causes no symptoms and is found when a biopsy is done for another breast problem. When symptoms do occur, they can be quite alarming, as some mimic the symptoms of breast cancer: A small lump just under the nippleTenderness/irritation of the nipple and areolaPink or red color to the nipple and areolaThick nipple discharge that is often sticky and dark green or black, though it may also be yellow, white, clear, or even bloodyNipple may retraction (pulling inward) A bacterial infection called mastitis also may develop in the milk duct, causing breast tenderness, inflammation, and fever with or without chills. Persistent and untreated duct ectasia could lead to the formation of an abscess, a collection of pus in your breast tissue, that may need to be drained. All About Nipple and Areola Health Causes Duct ectasia results from the normal changes that occur in breast tissues around menopause. The ducts become shorter and wider, and their walls thicken, resulting in the build-up of fluid and increasing their chance of becoming clogged. Nipple inversion, sometimes due to an underlying breast cancer, can also sometimes cause duct ectasia. Risk factors for mammary duct ectasia include being menopausal, female, and smoking. That said, mammary duct ectasia has occurred in young children and older adults; it sometimes occurs in men, but this is very uncommon. Diagnosis Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of mammary duct ectasia. He or she may be able to diagnose the condition by performing a physical exam, but additional tests may be requested. A breast ultrasound can often show the dilated breast ducts, though a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is sometimes needed. Mammography sometimes shows calcifications in the region. When the diagnosis is uncertain, an excisional biopsy is sometimes needed to be sure. A pathologist looks at the sample obtained during the procedure under a microscope to make sure there's no evidence of cancerous cells. How Breast Cancer Is Diagnosed Treatment Most of the time, mammary duct ectasia resolves without any treatment. Self-care measures, such as applying warm compresses to your nipple and wearing a supportive bra, can help reduce discomfort. If there's evidence of an infection, antibiotics will be prescribed. It's important to not squeeze the area to increase discharge, as this can increase inflammation and the chance of an infection developing. If symptoms don't resolve, surgery may be done to disconnect and remove the duct. Known as Hadfield's operation, the procedure will take about 30 minutes and is usually done under general anesthesia through a tiny incision at the edge of your areola. This removal of a single duct will not affect a woman's ability to breastfeed. A Word From Verywell Mammary duct ectasia can be uncomfortable, but fortunately, it's not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer or other complications. Sometimes, surgery will be needed, but most cases resolve on their own in time. It's important to be your own advocate and talk to your doctor about what you may expect and what the next steps might be if your symptoms do not resolve within a particular amount of time. If you're watching your duct ectasia to see if it resolves, it's important to call your doctor with any signs of an infection or an abscess, such as increased pain or a fever. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get honest information, the latest research, and support for you or a loved one with breast cancer right to your inbox. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Cancer Society. Duct Ectasia. Updated September 10, 2019. Boakes E, Woods A, Johnson N, Kadoglou N. Breast Infection: A Review of Diagnosis and Management Practices. Eur J Breast Health. 2018;14(3):136–143. doi:10.5152/ejbh.2018.3871 Rahal RM, De freitas-júnior R, Paulinelli RR. Risk factors for duct ectasia. Breast J. 2005;11(4):262-5. doi:10.1111/j.1075-122X.2005.21684.x Song L, Li L, Liu B, et al. Diagnostic evaluations of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in mammary duct ectasia and breast cancer. Oncol Lett. 2018;15(2):1698–1706. doi:10.3892/ol.2017.7514 Srivastava A, Griwan MS, Samaiyar SS, Sharma LK. A safe technique of major mammary duct excision. 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